National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Programmes Manager for Kasungu, Gerald Chirwa, has commended the government for establishing Community Civic Education Hubs, describing them as effective platforms for sharing development-related information within communities.

He made the remarks on Thursday at Traditional Authority Simlemba, in Kasungu, during the establishment of the Simlemba Civic Education Hub, which seeks to catalyse mindset change as a key enabler of Malawi Vision 2063.

Chirwa said the establishment of the hubs will provide a platform for community members to regularly interact, share knowledge, and enlighten one another on best development practices.

"Information sharing and consensus-based decision-making are critical pillars of community development, and it is high time we embrace the hubs and promote mindset change to achieve Vision 2063," he said.

On his part, Traditional Authority Simlemba concurred with Chirwa, saying the hub will promote unity among community members by bringing together various stakeholders to support informed decision-making on development initiatives across sectors such as health, education, and agriculture.

He further noted that the inclusion of all segments of society, ranging from youth to the elderly, including persons with disabilities, marks a significant step towards eliminating discrimination and ensuring inclusive development.

One of the committee representatives, Jenipher Phiri, said the hub will also serve as a guidance and counselling centre, addressing various social issues such as marriage counselling, youth mentorship, and health promotion.

The establishment of the civic education hubs is being implemented under the Boma Lathu Project within the Department of Civic Education, with financial support from the European Union.

Currently, Kaluluma and Simlemba hubs have been established in Kasungu District on a pilot basis, before the initiative is rolled out to other parts of the district.